A full-bodied brown ale with smooth hints of pumpkin and brown sugar. We brew our Punkin Ale with pumpkin meat, organic brown sugar and spices. As the season cools, this is the perfect beer to warm up with.

Beer: Reviews & Ratings

APPEARANCE: The color is not what one might expect from a “full-bodied brown ale”. In fact, it is a bright, but hazy orange color. A half-finger of white head rises and falls within seconds of the initial pour. A layer of wispy foam remains, covering most of the surface of the beer. Quite a few bubbles can be seen popping up towards the surface at varying speeds, giving this beer a nice, lively look.

SMELL: Now the “brown ale” piece of this is coming through with a fair amount of roasted malt aromas that make up the majority of the smell. Just underneath that roast, though, is a very strong pumpkin smell…and not the fake, pumpkin pie smell (which I often like), this is the real deal, pumpkin smell. Some pie spices flirt with the nose as well, but they are subtle.

TASTE: The roast flavors match the aromas in intensity and, for this beer, dominate the flavor profile for me. And again, the true pumpkin flavor comes in right underneath it, but this time the spices are closer to the front and center than in the nose. The heavy roast also brings out what is almost a woody flavor, along with a touch of vanilla.

MOUTHFEEL: Medium-bodied and on the sweet side for an average beer, but a little dry for many Pumpkins on the market. There is a touch of stickiness on the front end, but it certainly dries while going down.

OVERALL: Dogfish Punkin is a pretty solid beer. I do appreciate that I can detect a lot more actual pumpkin flavor and aroma than in most others, but I would appreciate a little more sweet and spice. I’m sure many people out there may prefer this, however. (1,623 characters)

Taste: Lots of spice, very reminiscent of a winter warmer (GLBC Christmas Ale in particular). The pumpkin itself is almost undetectable, though there are definitely some fruity undertones.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, has a nice crisp carbonation but also a slightly syrupy feel.

Overall: As the label says, this really is a perfect beer to warm up with. Spices are front and center, so fortunately they are excellently blended and really match up with the platonic idea of pumpkin pie. I would love to have this with a little vanilla ice cream or just whipped cream on the side. (728 characters)

Appearance: Very light orange in color, clear and easy to see through. The beer lets in lots of light. Very strong carbonation. Big frothy white head with decent retention. Little to no cling in the glass while the drink is being imbibed. Aroma: The aromas are mild in comparison to the other pumpkin beers I've tried this summer and fall. I get nice aromas of allspice, clove, nutmeg. The pumpkin seems to come out very nicely as well. Brown sugar also plays a nice role. Taste: A very mellow blend of the spices and pumpkin comes together. Something is hitting me close to vanilla but in reality it is probably sugars (brown). The malts play a simple role as well. Mouthfeel: Light Medium to medium in body with Medium to medium high carbonation. This is a perfect example of a refreshing fruit beer. The carbonation is a bit on the high side but still very nice. (953 characters)

Poured from an ice cold bottle into a glass. They changed the label into a better one but I don't have a twat or no wait a tweet so I cant show you a picture.

A nice golden pumpkin color with slight carbonation. I gave it an aggressive pour and got a four finger head, never complain about too much head fellas.

I'm getting a light fresh smell but nothing flavor or sent wise, odd.

It has a pleasant mouth fell, just what you would expect for an ale, not bitter and I'm getting a big punch of spice.

It has a nice pumpkin flavor , could be stronger but nice hints of spice and cinnamon.

Overall it is a nice seasonal beer, I'm a big fan of Dogfish Head. I wish it had a stronger pumpkin flavor but overall its a winner, and with an ABV of 7% its a nice sipper that will get you were you want to go. (809 characters)

Nutmeg, a touch of cinnamon, and light brown sugar fill the nose. A quick whiff smells like a cane sugar ginger ale soda. Not much pumpkin in the taste, although it does give it some chewiness in the mouth-feel. Would make a tasty Thanksgiving dessert option along side pumpkin pie with fresh whipped cream. (310 characters)

Pumpkin flavored beer is not my favorite - that being said everything about this Pumpkin Ale is excellent, less the taste because of the basic spice profile for me. If you like pumpkin flavored beer, get this beer. (215 characters)

I hadn’t been able to get ahold of this beer for over 5 years (after enjoying plenty of them back in the day). And the wait is worth it. This remains a world-class pumpkin beer!

Pours an attractive golden amber, with a pleasant head of off-white suds. Lace is loopy and lovely.

Aroma - A rich pumpkin and spice mix, with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and brown sugar all making their presences known.

Taste - This is a complex beer, with none of the spices overpowering the pumpkin, which makes me happy after having so many pumpkin ales that don’t get that balance right. With plenty of taste, character, and subtlety, Punkin Ale remains one of my favorite pumpkin ales, and one I’d return to again. Only negative is the price (I paid $13.99 for a 4pk). (770 characters)

Im new to the pumpkin beers but this is hands down my favorite one yet! Southern tier makes a good pumkin brew but still like the dogfish (plan on trying more while they are in season). Funny thing is I have never liked pumpkin pie, which is why I had no interest in pumpkin beers but I finally tried one and instantly fell in love. Tastes more like the smell of pumpkin pie then the taste of one. tasty brew! (409 characters)

Color of clear amber with a off-white head that disappears quickly. Aroma of pumpkin, nutmeg, vanilla and other spices. As far as taste, the first thing that hits you is the carbonation, followed by the flavors of a pumpkin pie with a nice malt finish at the back end. Easy, refreshing drink for the fall. I recommend enjoying this beer while watching your favorite football team. (380 characters)

Last year's batch (2013) was better than this year's batch, that being said not sure what happened. Still a great beer, it's more of a spice beer than a raw pumpkin flavor upfront. You get the usual cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and a hint of some pumpkin. For 7% you can't really taste the alcohol content, best served a little bit on the warmer side to get the full flavors and aromas to pop. Not a real heavy beer, great for any fall day, and even winter. Not much head on this beer more like a half a finger then some lacing afterwards. Pours dark amber. (556 characters)

This pours a semi-clear amber color with a slight head. The aroma is mild with pumpkin, clove, and spices. The flavor is rich with pumpkin and spices. The texture is perfect for the style, but the flavors could be a little bolder. Overall this is a top notch pumpkin beer that is probably one of the top10 in the market. (321 characters)

App: Solidly golden color with a creamy off white head that rises and settles quickly. Slight ring remains around edges of glass. Carbonation is slight, but consistent. Crystal clear. Smell: Pumpkin aroma is pleasant, slight and vegetal, but ultimately hidden under assertive but delicate spice aromas, mostly cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. Very present, but (thankfully) not overwhelming. Taste: Taste follows nose closely, but with greater emphasis on the vegetal and slightly green flavor of the pumpkin. Malt is predominantly sweet and compliments the spices. Pumpkin is most present on the aftertaste, coming through as an earthy, slightly sweet and fermented flavor. Slight hops bitterness on the aftertaste also kills the sweet, which lets the more delicate flavors come through. Mouth: Light bodied, easy drinking and plenty flavorful, Punkin hides its ABV very well. Mouthfeel is soft, creamy, and evokes pumpkin pie.

Appearance- Pours a dark orange color and cloudy/hazy in terms of clarity. Two finger white head that dissipates fast.

Smell- Unmistakeable scent of fresh pumpkin interwoven with the pumpkin pie spices and a malty sweetness.

Taste- Starts off quite sweet and sugary, but this quickly turns into some fresh pumpkin flavor. The spices of nutmeg and cinamon are imparted but are not overpowering. The pumpkin taste as well as some light bitterness linger in the back end.

Mouthfeel- Quite light in body for a 7% ale. Actually on the thin side which makes this super drinkable. Slick and lively in the palate.

Overall- A suberb pumpkin ale. Maybe a little on the sweet side but not to the point that it would detract. The fresh taste is there. Not too spicey either but enough spice taste to be appropriate. Definitely lives up to being on the top 5 pumpkin ales. (897 characters)

T: Starts with a touch of sweetness that is quickly cut through by a dash of spice; all spice, cinnamon and cloves most prominent; mid sip the spices reveal a smooth/creamy pumpkin pie flavor, not overly sweet but pleasing and balanced; finish presents a bready note that mingles with residual spiciness with cinnamon leading the way, leaving a cinnamon graham cracker like flavor on the tongue long after swallowing.

M: Nice carbonation cuts through the initial slickness on the palate; leaves a slightly powdery feeling on the palate after the finish.

O: Pleasantly drinkable for 7% ABV, as the spice and pumpkin notes mask any alcohol presence. What is particularly nice about this beer is how seamlessly it transitions from sweet to spicy to pumpkin pie to a malty graham cracker finish. Quite a tasty pumpkin ale and one of the benchmarks of the style for sure. (1,317 characters)

I generally thought I hated pumpkin beers, but every year I try to find a beer to change my mind. I don't love this beer but it is definitely getting me closer to liking them. This beer pours a very nice orange-goldish color. You can definitely smell the pumpkin, with various spices hitting you also. The spices like cinnamon and all spice takes the lead as far as taste and mellows into a nice aftertaste. It also has a very dense mouth feel to it. This makes me want to explore more pumpkin beers! (500 characters)

Pours perfect golden and smells honey sweet. First sip shows bitter roast. A perky bubbly body. There's not much pumpkin scent but some Something earthy. There's a sweet backing to this bitter ale. Spices and a woody floral scent and while it warms the malt develops some honey and biscuit. Brown sugar and a light smoke quality. Thin, slick mouthfeel. Alcohol is on the palate and a harsher finish that I would have liked. (427 characters)

Im not much for Pumpkin anything I think its overhyped however I still try everything I can get my hands on. The lacing out of the bottle was minimal and the head was 1/4 in at the peak. It was light mouthfeel and the pumpkin and spices were secondary to the brown ale aspect which was nice. I wont buy again unless Im forced to buy anything pumpkin then its at the top of the list. (1st review) (395 characters)

As a brown ale, it's successful. As a pumpkin ale, it's middle of the road. The spices and overall pumpkin flavor are just too subtle. Don't get me wrong, it is delicious. While it is a great pumpkin beer, it just falls short when compared to some other pumpkin beers out there. (279 characters)

This is the second time I've had this in the last five years, only because it's the second time I've seen it in Colorado. It pours really light for a supposed brown ale, just looks coppery with light head like a typical pumpkin ale. Nose is cinnamon, nutmeg, sweet and earthy, but I do not get profound pumpkin aroma, mostly spice. The flavor profile is similar, but I will say this tastes pretty hot for a 7%. Carbonation holds up really nicely on this one, a very lively ale.

Overall, I think $12 for the 4-pack of this is pretty unwarranted for what you get, and you'd be better off getting a six of a number of pumpkins that I would consider better (or, get a six of DFH Indian Brown!). I think this ale relies heavily on ABV and the DFH name, and doesn't really stand out so much in the lineup of pumpkin ales. This is just a standard pumpkin ale to me with more alcohol; lacks the complexity or distinction that would land it in a $12 4-pack. (949 characters)

this year has an excellent earthy punkin nose. The appearance is just right a moderately thin copper color. Mouthfeel…silkily!. Body…mod-fulnessl. Flavor is moderately pumpkin, light toasty biscuit, a bit of molasses at the end, and finishes with a bit of cinnamon and a lot of clove.

Makes me reminisce of a late fall evening at early sunset over a blue-ridge mountain range.

Dark orange copper color, thin white head fades fast and leaves a little lacing on the glass. Pumpkin pie spices are subdued. Nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and vegetal pumpkin notes. Taste brings more of that vegetal pumpkin flavors others shy away from. Caramel like malt plays host to cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. Seems like two parts with one carrying great vegetal pumpkin then sweet malt and spices but it never comes together. Sharper on the mouthfeel than I'd like here. Higher carbonation and slightly thinner end of medium mouthfeel. Overall it's a decent pumpkin ale, not the best but I enjoy a couple every year. (625 characters)